litigate

To litigate is to engage in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one.

The word especially refers to what lawyers do in such a proceeding. In fact, another name for a lawyer is litigator, especially a lawyer who specializes in civil cases. The related word litigant refers to a person engaged in a lawsuit.
The process of engaging in a legal proceeding is called litigation. To be in litigation typically means to be engaged in a civil legal proceeding (as opposed to a criminal one, in which one is said to be on trial).

Litigate can also be used in a somewhat figurative or general way meaning to intensely dispute or argue something, as if one were a lawyer in a courtroom setting, as in It’s just a minor issue—we don’t have to litigate it over and over again.  

Example: They want to avoid having to litigate, so they’re going to try to get you to settle out of court.

The first records of the word litigate come from the early 1600s. It derives from the Latin verb lītigāre, meaning “to go to law,” from līt- (a stem of līs, meaning “lawsuit”) and agere, “to carry on.”

Litigators litigate, and litigating often takes the form of carrying on a lawsuit. Litigation is often expensive and time-consuming (which might be good for the litigators but not so much for their clients). For this reason, people often try to avoid litigation when they’re on the wrong end of a lawsuit. Some choose to go through arbitration, which is a process in which a third party helps to settle the dispute.

Those who do engage in litigation and present their cases in court can still agree to settle before a decision is reached by the court—meaning they agree to stop litigating and come to a deal on their own (though often still with the help of the litigators).

What are some other forms related to litigate?

• litigation (noun)
• litigator (noun)
• litigant (noun)
• litigable (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with litigate? 

• litigious

What are some words that often get used in discussing litigate?

• lawsuit
• legal
• proceeding
• lawyer
• attorney
• client
• case
• dispute
• process
• arbitration
• mediation

The word litigate is most often used in the context of a lawsuit, but its general use is not uncommon.

PG&E to be forced to litigate in Ghost Ship civil case https://t.co/cU2MKgrDXl pic.twitter.com/kDfPaYrhDA

— East Bay Times (@EastBayTimes) December 17, 2019

Any lawyers out there who are hunters or receptive to hunting and can litigate on conservation issues? Specifically, can file briefs—amicus or otherwise. Are familiar with EAJA and other laws.

One of my clients is searching for adept lawyers. Suggestions appreciated!

— Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) October 21, 2019

Grasso says the job of the attorney general is to "advocate, legislate and litigate," by looking at the state's issues and proposing solutions.

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 16, 2018

True or False? 

Litigate usually refers to engaging in a criminal trial.